Portable and collapsible table or tray



Aug. 30, 1927. 1,640,441

I. CONRAD v PORTABLE AND COLLAPSIBLE TABLE OR'TRAY Filed Au 8, 1925 1 A5 3 I o 9 r 0 o 1i- I I I r J 5 4' z a '4 4 'QiiiiiiiiiililllllIll/117$ 177. 4-. 'o;\

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B1 ah Cbnrad Patented Aug 30, 1927;

UNITED STATES 1,640,441 PATENT OFFICE;

ISIAH CONRAD, 0F COLUMBUS, OHIO, A SSIGNOR TO F. O. SCHOEDINGER, OF COLUMBUS,

OHIO. I

PORTABLE Ann ooLLnrsIBLE TABLE 03 TRAY.

Application filed August 8, 1925. Serial No. 4493197.

This invention relates to an improved portable and collapsible table ortray, and is particularly directed to an improved form of sheet metal tray capable of being used in hospitals or sick rooms for the purpose of supporting and receiving food dishes and the like upon the bed so that a patient may occupy a comfortable, semi-reclining position while using the table,

In accordance with the invention there is provided a table for the purpose specified which consists of a tray or supporting plate to the ends of which are pivotally connected a pair of supporting frames, so arranged that when the table is in use the frames will occupy a vertical position permitting of the support of the tray or plate in a horizontal plane above the limbs or body of theuser when the table is positioned upon the bed of the patient, there beingassociated with the end frames a novel form of locking means for retaining the frames in their vertical extended positions, the said frames be ing extended above the plane of the plate so as to provide manipulating portions permitting of the grasping of the table and the convenient handling and lifting of the same. The said frame members being pivoted so that when the table is not in use, the frames may be collapsed to lie substantially in the plane of the tray and to enable the table proper to utilize but a minimum of storage space.

\Vith these and other objects in view, as

will appear as the description proceeds, the

invention consists in the novel features of construction combinations of elements and arrangements of parts hereinafter to be fully described and pointed out in theappended claim.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is a side elevation of a tray or table constructed in accordance with the present invention, 4 V

Figure 2 is a partial top plan view thereof,

Figure 3 is an end elevation,

Figure 4 is a detail vertical sectional view disclosing the manner of pivoting the end frames to the tray, and

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 4."

Referring more particularly to the drawings my improved hospital table or tray consists of a horizontally disposed'preferably sheet metal plate 1 provided with downturned marginal flanges 2 around the edges thereof. Secured to the inner surfaces of the flanges 2 at the ends of the plate 1 is a pair of reinforcing bars 3 which are provided with vertically disposed lugs or bearings 4. The lowerends of these lugs are bent outwardly so as to extend beyond the edges of the platel as indicated in Figures 4 and 5. p

Pivotally'secured as at 5 to the out-turned ends of the lugs l are pivotally movable leg or frame members 6. In this instance the leg or frame members are formed from bent tubing and the contour thereof is best disclosed by reference to Figure 3. In this figure it will be observed that each leg or frame member includes a pair of vertically disposed legs7 which terminate at their lower ends in curved portions 8,v are then bent up wardly to provide converging legs 9 which terminate at their upper ends in arcuate connecting port-ions 10, the upper ends of the legs 7 being extended above the plane of the plate 1 and are connected by horizontal- 1y disposed cross portions 11. The portions 11 by being located above the plate 1 permit the frames to be conveniently grasped so that the tray may be carried from place to place. Also, the shape of the portions 7, 8 and'9 of the frame member 6 is such as to permit the tray to assume quite a. stable con dition when the tray or table is placed upon a soft mattress or bedding.

When not in use the frame members are swung about the pivots so instead of extending perpendicularly to the plate 1, the said leg members will lie substantially in the plane of the plate 1. By thus collapsing the table convenience is to be had in storing the same compactly. Since the cross portion To maintain the frame members 4 tion in a bed.

ranged back wall or ledge 1'4 of the plate. It will be manifest that as the frame members are moved about their pivots in a direction causing the leg members to assume their upright positions, the hooks 12 thereof will be forced into engagement with the spring tongues 13, so that the latter may respond in frictionally holding the frames againstundue movement.

In View of the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be seen that there is pro vided a simple and useful form of hospital tray which will provide convenience in many respects in supporting articles for patients assuming a reclining or semi-reclining posi- The table is of such construction that when set up for use the same is particularly rigid and stable, not apt to tiltand may be placed so that the articles deposited thereon may be conveniently reached by the patient without causing the latter to twist or assume a cramped, unnatural position. The device is of very simple construction and can be operated with utmost convenience.

What is claimed is:

In a. folding table of the character set forth, a supporting plate including downturned marginal flanges, lugs formed with Q the end flanges of said plate, fo-ldable end frames for said plate pivoted to said lugs whereby said frames are capable of being moved from-inactive positions lying substantially in the plane of said plate to active positions occupying planes substantially at right'angles to that of said plate, each of said frames being formed to include transversely spaced longitudinally extending side bars, a connecting upper bar and a loop shaped lcgconnection between the lower ends of the side ba rs an offset arm provided upon one of said side bars, a spring means engaging with the arm of eachof said frames for retaining the latter locked in their active vertical positions.

In testimony whereof I affl'x my signature.

ISIAH CONRAD. 

